African Swine Fever Outbreaks in China and Papua New Guinea

China detected a new case of African swine fever in piglets transported to Sichuan from outside the province, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

The outbreak was found in a truck transporting 83 piglets to Leshan city, with one piglet dead, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement on its website. China reported several new cases of the deadly African swine fever disease in March.

Meanwhile, in Papua New Guinea, reports are also confirming important figures. More than 300 pigs have so far been killed by ASF in Mendi in the country's Southern Highlands province.

PNG Agriculture Minister John Simon said it was unclear how the outbreak had occurred, but it is suspected the pigs may have eaten contaminated meat at a village dump. He said PNG has been on high alert for ASF for several months.

The outbreak was discovered while PNG is in a 14-day state of emergency due to COVID-19, restricting domestic travel.